Can or box



(No Model.)

F. E. DE JEAN.

CAN 0 BOX.

No. 336,094. Patentedf'eb. 16, 1886 the body A are formed as shown in Figs. 3

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRED. E. DE JEAN, OF NEYVBURYPORT, MASSACHUSETTS.

CAN OR BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No 336.094, dated February 16, 1886.

Application filed May 27, 1885. Serial No. 166,895.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRED. E. DE J EAN', residing at Newburyport, in the State of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in Cans and Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to cans, boxes, and other receptacles which are used to contain crackers, biscuit, and other food material, &c., and has for its object to provide a new and improved containing-body which shall embody the maximum of usefulness and desirability with the minimum of the negative qualities.

The ordinary square metal boxes, cans. &c., used tor the reception and transportation of cooked wheat and other grain products are not specially constructed with locki ng devices, and when brought into proximity with others, as in packing a large number in a box or crate for shipment, develop objections inherent in their construction which occasion inconveniences and annoyances of various kinds. Usually their hinged covers project over the main portion of the box, and their securing straps and hasps form protuberances on the front thereof which interfere seriously in handling them singly, and in the process of packing them together for a journey, as their sides cannot touch each other on account of the said projecting straps, hasps, hinges, &c., spaces between the cans exist, which allow them to shift about and jar their contents, the cans themselves often suffering injury, besides making a difficult matter to pack them at all.

Of the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a square can embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view, showing the locking device; Fig. 4, the same as Fig. 3, the bolt of the lock be ing, however, drawn. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the locking apparatus detached.

In the drawings, A is the body of the box, having secured to it by hingesc c the cover a, the flanges or sides f thereof being flush with the sides of the body A. The upper edges of and 4, the material forming the walls being bent to form a ledge, as 6, (onto which the flange f of the cover a rests,) then rising and turning over, forming a half-circle in section,

(No model.)

and suddenly bending under and extending forward to touch, or nearly so, the under side of the ledge c. This rim, as (1, extends entirely around the top of the body A, and serves not only to form a ledge, e, for the flanges ot' the cover a to rest upon, but also as a brace or stiffener to the bcdy, much more than taking the place of the usual finish of such edges. The cover a is attached to the body A by the ordinary butt-hinges, c c. The locking device is secured to the under side of the cover a in a depression or cavity, h, semicircular in plan, having an opening, 9, to the top of the cover.

The locking device is shown detached and in perspective in Fig. 5. It is composed of a bolt, 2', arranged to slide on the floor of the cavity 71, and projects through a slot, Z, in the front wall of the cavity, and under the rim d, which acts as an abutment or keeper for the bolt 2' of the body A when the bolt is thrown. The bolt i is jointed to the lever-handle at s. This lever-handle rests also upon the floor aforesaid when the box is locked, as in Fig. 3. The lever-handle is also fulcrumed by a connected spurlever, t, to the under side of the cover a at m. The free end of the lever-handle has a loop, is, projecting upwardly to the top surface of the cover a to serve as a catch for a persons finger.

I have described the locking device as in position when the bolt is thrown and the cover a locked to the body A.

When it is desired to open the box, a finger is inserted through the opening 9 and under the loop k, and by pulling the same outward into the position shown in Fig. 4 the bolt slides along the floor of the cavity h, and the leverhandle turning on the fulcrum t. \Vhen in this position, the lever-handle serves as a means to raise the cover a.

The locking of the cover a to the body A is effected by simply pressing the loop is downward into the cavity.

An important advantage gained by this form of lock is that when the bolt is thrown the lever-handle j rests upon the floor of the cavity h, in a parallel line therewith and in axial line with the bolt, and cannot become unlocked by any motion the box may suffer, the only way to move the bolt being as described.

It will be seen that when the box is locked it presents smooth and even faces on every side, and can be as easily and securely packed, with others as a cube.

I claim as my invention 1. In alocking device for sheet-metal cans, the combination of a pivoted lever having a raising-loop for the purpose described, and a sliding locking-bolt attached to the under side of the cover, and an abutment or bolt-keeper on the body of the can, substantially as described.

2. In a locking device for sheet-metal cans, the combination of a pivoted lever having a raising loop adapted to be raised and depressed through an opening in the cover, and a-sli ding locking-bolt attached to the under, side of the cover, and a; bolt-keeper on the body of the can, substantially as and for the purposes described.

3. In a locking device for sheet-metal cans, the lever-j, (having a loop, k, for-the purpose .the abutment or bolt-keeper d, substantially.

as and for the purposes described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 17th day of'April, 1885.

FRE nn JEAN;

Witnesses:

D. E. RICHARDS, GEO. WILLIS'PIEROE. 

